Store front construction



Sept. 18, 1934. ERNSTOFF 1,974,233

STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l am? I n P 18, 1934- H. ERNSTOFF STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION Filed Nov. 23, 1953 2 Sheets- -Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, 1934 Hurrah srArss earner orrice STORE FRONT CONSTRUCTION Harry Ernstofi, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 23, 19 33, Serial'No. 699,418 8 Claims. (01. 20-564) The presentinvention relates to window frames and has for its main object the provision of window frames so constructed as to facilitate the mounting of the glass'window and the remova'l and replacement thereof. The construcmoldingof improved construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molding construction in which it is unnecessary to use screws or other'securing devices passing through or in contact with the glass plate for securin'g'the molding in position.

A further object of the present invention is generally to provide an'im'proved store-front con struction. H V V H V I For a complete understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description considered in connection with the" accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification. I e V I v In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a store front embodying the present invention;

' Fig. 2 is 'a-section onth'e line 2--2 of Fig. 1; 1 Fig. 3' is a vertical sectional view;

- Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the upper part of'the frame; Y I V t Fig; 5 is a rear view in. elevation of the upper part of the frame; and c o Fig. 6 is a section'on the line 66-of Fig. 5.

Referringtof-the drawings in detail, there is shown a storefront-comprising a-base-10' and a window; frame .11 having an opening in which there is mounted aglass window 12 which, as inthe usual. storefront constructions, is. made ofplateg las'st 7 The upright members 13 and 14 of the frame have-vertically extending groove's15, and 16 and the sill 17 has agroove 18. Within these grooves are mounted'side and bottom frame members or moldings'of the improved construction of the present invention for removably holding the glass plate12.

As shown more clearly in Fig. 2, each of the side moldings comprises a front portion .19 and a spaced rear portion 20 united by a projecting side portion 21 outlining a vertically extending groove 22 for receiving the glass plate 12. As shown'in Fig. 3 the bottom molding is of the same construction as the side moldings and comprises a front portion 23, a rear portion 2 1, and an intermediate projecting portion 25 outlining a groove 26 within which the lower marginal edge portion of the glass plate 12 is received. J The intermediate projecting portions 21 and 25 of the'side and bottom moldingsare secured within thegrooves 15, 16, and. 18

in the side uprights and in the sill of the frame 11 so that the side and bottommoldings may if ,desired be built into the frame and form a permanent part thereof, although it will be understood that these moldings may be removably secured to the frame. The grooves 22 and 26 are somewhat widerthan the thickness of the glass plate 12 and the groove 22 in one of side moldings, here shown in the left side molding, is deeper thanthe groove 22 in the right side molding, so that the glass plate 12 may be moved to the left (as viewed from Fig. 2) an amount suificient to permit the opposite vertical edge of the glass plate 12 to clear the front portion 19 .of. the corresponding side molding. However, both grooves 22 may be of equal depth provided they are deep enough to permit the glass plate to be moved far enough into onegroove so that a side edge of the plate will clear the adjacent side molding. The moldings are providedwith ventilatingmeans constituted by apertures22ja and 23a in the side and bottom moldingsfr'espec'tively, extending from the front surface of the front portions of the molding to thegrooves 22 and 26, respectively, and by grooves 20a and 24am the side and bottom moldings, respectively forming a means of communication between the grooves 22,26 and the rear of the frame opening. Thus air may pass through the openings 22a and23a for ventilationandother well known purposes and water which may aecumulate in the window frame from condensation or when the window is washed may escape through the openings 23a in the bottom molding. The ends of. themoldings are beveledforming miter joints indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and designated by the reference numeral 221), the miter .joints 2 am; the top being shown in full lines in 1 frame member or molding 27 which is mounted for movement from the position shown in Fig. 3 where it overlies the top marginal edge portion of the glass plate 12 to the position shown in Fig. t above the top edge of said plate. For this purpose there are provided supporting and interengaging guiding means carried by the upper part of the frame and molding 2'7 and comprising metal brackets 28 secured to the top of the frame 11 and slotted metal plates 29 secured to the molding 2'7. The construction is such that the slotted plate 29 can move laterally of the bracket arm 30 between the positions shown in Fig. 3 and 4 so that any portions of the molding 2'? such as the rib 31 projecting forwardly of the rear side 32 of the upper part of the frame will clear said rear wall. When the molding 27 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 the glass plate 12 can be raised to permit the lower edge thereof to clear the upper edge of the bottom molding. It will be understood that there will be provided a sufficient number of brackets 28 and slotted plates 29 to properly support the top molding 27, the number of these plates varying with the length of the molding.

In mounting the glass plate 12 in the frame the top molding 27 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 4, the glass plate 12 is inserted preferably through the front of the frame with one vertical edge of said plate extending into a vertical groove 22 far enough to permit the opposite edge to clear the adjacent side molding and to be moved rearwardly into alignment with the adjacent groove 22. The plate can then be lowered into the groove 26 in the bottom molding and centered with respeot to the front portions 19 of the side moldings so that said moldings overlie the marginal edge portions of the plate substantially as shown in Fig. 2. Then the top molding 27 is moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 where the lower portion thereof overlies the front of the top marginal edge portion of the glass plate. A rear transverse frame member 33 is removably secured to the upper part of the frame 11, preferably to the side uprights 13 and 14, in overlying relation to the rear of the top marginal edge portion of the glass plate and thereby holds the glass plate in position against the top molding 2'7 and the latter against the rear side 32 of the top front wall of the frame 11. Putty may then be applied as desired preferably in the space between the rear of the glass plate and the walls of the grooves 22 and 26. In removing the glass 12, the transverse member 33 is removed and the top molding 27 is raised to the position shown in Fig. 4. Then the glass plate is moved to extend further into one of the grooves so that one side edge will clear the adjacent side molding to permit the plate to be moved through the frame opening, preferably forwardly thereof, after the plate is raised so that its lower edge is clear of the bottom molding.

Thus, in the construction of this invention glass windows can be mounted, removed and replaced with comparatively no difficulty and it is unnecessary to remove or disturb the molding sections except'only to displace the top molding 27. Acpordingly the present construction has several important advantages because the moldings are not subject to damage or destruction which frequently take place when it is necessary to remove them as in the prior art practice and the glass plate is not subject to the danger of cracking or breaking when, as in the prior art practice. screws or other securing devices usually passing through the glass plate are employed in fastening the moldings in position.

As here shown the base 10 of the present store front construction is ornamented by novel means comprising light reflecting means carried by the front plate 11 on the base 10. The light reflecting means is constituted by colored glass, known as cathedral glass, which, according to the present invention, is silvered or otherwise treated on its rear surface to form a reflecting surface. As here shown, the reflecting colored glass is in the form of a plurality of cubes or tiles 34, preferably of a plurality of contrasting colors, arranged to form a suitable design. The plate 11 may be of any suitable material such as marble or glass and is preferably of a color in contrast to the colors of the tiles 34 to form a background therefor. The tiles 34 are preferably set into a recess in the plate 11 or into a recess outlines by a plurality of such plates, and the front surfaces of the tiles may be flush with the front surface of the plate 11, or may terminate below or project beyond said surface as desired.

While, as required by the patent statute, Ihave shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that the latter is capable of other specific embodiments and certain changes in the construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A window frame comprising grooved side and bottom walls for receiving the marginal edge portions of a glass plate, and a top wall for overlying the top marginal portion of said glass plate, said top wall mounted on the frame for movement upwardly and laterally of the top edge of the glass plate.

2. A window frame for a glass plate, said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overlie the front of the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, said frame also having a top portion for normally overlying the front of the marginal top portion of said glass plate, said top frame portion mounted for movement upwardly and rearwardly over the top edge of the glass plate.

3. A window frame comprising grooved side and :130 bottom walls for receiving the marginal edge portions of a glass plate, and a top wall for overlying the front top marginal portion of said glass plate, said top wall mounted on the frame for movement upwardly and rearwardly over the top edge of the glass plate. 7

4. A window frame having an opening for a glass plate, said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overliethe front of the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, and a top frame portion normally overlying the front of the marginal top portion of said glass plate and mounted for suflicient movement thereof upwardly beyond the top edge of said glass plate to permit the lower edge of the glass plate to be raised above said bottom frame portion, said frame opening being wide enough to permit the glass plate to be moved laterally so that one side edge thereof can be 5 moved beyond the normally overlying side frame portion.

5. A window frame having an opening for a glass plate, said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overlie the front of the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, and a top frame portion normally overlying the front of the marginal top portion of said glass plate and mounted for sufficient movement thereof upwardly and rearwardly over the top edge of said glass plate to permit the lower edge of the glass plate to be raised above said bottom frame portion, said frame opening being wide enough to permit the glass plate to be moved laterally so that one side edge thereof can be moved beyond the normally overlying side frame portion.

6. A window frame for a glass plate, said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overlie the front of the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, said frame also having a top portion for normally overlying the front of the marginal top portion of said glass plate, and means for mounting said top frame portion for movement upwardly and rearwardly of the top edge of the glass plate, said means comprising relatively movable interengaging guiding means on said frame and said top frame portion.

7. A window frame for a glass plate said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overlie the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, said frame also having a top portion for normally overlying the marginal top portion of said glass plate, said top frame portion mounted for movement upwardly and laterally of the top edge of the glass plate.

8. A window frame having an opening for a glass plate, said frame having side and bottom portions adapted to normally overlie the marginal side and bottom portions of said glass plate, and a top frame portion normally overlying the marginal top portion of said glass plate and mounted for sufficient movement thereof upwardly beyond the top edge of said glass plate, said frame opening being wide enough to permit the glass plate to be moved laterally so that one side edge thereof can be moved beyond the normally overlying side frame portion.

HARRY ERNSTOIEF. 

